Coast Guard Intrigue.
There are frustratingly few details on the story that broke today about Coast Guard Captain Mark Hamilton. The Anchorage Sector Commander was abruptly relieved of duty yesterday morning for “alleged misconduct and loss of confidence in the officer’s ability to command,” according to the press release issued by the Coast Guard.
Reached Monday night, [Rear Admiral Arthur C.] Brooks said the investigation of Hamilton, who held the third-highest billet in the state, has been going for about a month and is likely to continue for another month or two. The investigation, conducted by the Coast Guard Investigative Service, has produced increasing evidence of misconduct in that time, he said.
“We do have an ongoing Coast Guard investigation that had determined enough misconduct that I felt that I could no longer leave him in command,” Brooks said. “I still don’t know the full extent of it, or the degree of this, and so decisions on what to do and where it will ultimately go still pend. But I’ve reached a point where I needed to relieve him.”
Nothing is known for certain, but Brooks said this has nothing to do with Hamilton’s overseeing of the situation at Chevron’s Drift River oil facility. After weeks of facing the threat of environmental calamity, millions of gallons of crude oil were drained from tanks over the last several weeks at the facility which lies at the base of Mt. Redoubt, an erupting volcano.
The investigation was started about a month ago, which would have been right around the time of Redoubt’s last major eruption on April 4, and right around the time that the draining of the tanks began on April 9. Citizens were directed to Contact Hamilton with their comments and concerns. Major public outcry and media exposure preceded this belated effort.
According to Brooks, the public will be informed of the results of the investigation after its completion.
[**Open thread is still active for off-topic posts**]
VERN! DeP? Skinny, bearded, and shaved bald at last sighting? Of course I remember! It’s been a very long time.
Let’s get private: my email: b j w a h l 5 9 at gmail dot com
remove the spaces and all that…
Sorry an otherwise good career is in trouble, I’ll bet it doesn’t come near the poor SOB sub skipper who jump-surfaced his nuker right underneath that Japanese R/V off Hawaii several years ago….
Hey BeeJay. We were on the Queen at the same time. I was only on for abt 9 months before volunteering for LORAN duty on Attu! Yes… THAT Attu. I also did tours on a Patrol Boat in Seward and Lorsta Narrow Cape (Kodiak),
I think the Fine Captn’ got caught doing something naughty, probably related to his zipper. Have to wait for the investigation though, I am kind of an old fashioned believer in innocent until proven guilty. It’s still an interesting concept.
Hi Actongue!
I was on the CGC Campbell (WHEC-32, not the current imposter) from 78 to 80, and at CCGD12 in San Francisco afterwards in 80-82. I was a Radioman 2nd at discharge. Homeport is now Bellingham, WA, not that far from Everett! Of course, it’s always been my homeport, and I managed to spend my entire career on the west coast.
I will not make disparaging remarks about ‘Polar Pigs’ here… 😉
Fellow Mudflatters: forgive us old Coasties for a little reminiscing here! I sailed to Alaska on two cruises and loved (nearly) every day there. The Bering Sea was beautiful in her own way and we went to more than a few remote locations, as well as Kodiak and the Southeast.
Back to the Topic: remember the phrase “conduct un-becoming an officer?” Enlisted men get bad conduct or other punishments, but only officers can get misconduct charges (if I remember correctly). If not an official distinction, it’s an informal one to remember.
Learned much about the Coast Guard thru my son who is in the CG, and was, until June of last year, stationed out of Kodiak. The standards and training of the Coast Guard are quite high. It is sad to see that someone high up in command lapsed and is having to be called out. It is gratifying to see that the Coast Guard is doing so in such a circumstance. That action only gives credence to the Coast Guard’s faithfulness to their own high standards. I have only respect for everything that I have learned about the Coast Guard.
Hi Beejay from a Fellow ex Coastie…………CGC Polar SEA, Point Doran 9Everett Wa……..Also was on the CGC Eagle I was in the First QM class in yorktown…Gotta love me some Bennigans and Russian qualuude.(its a drink) I had more sea time in 7 years then alot of chiefs I met :}
My last unit was CGC Ironwood in Kodiak
I agree with your statement about being caught doing something along the lines that you spoke of.
The Coast Guard is an Awesome Service to join for those that are considering serving the country,
As a former Coastie (of many years ago now), the language indicates the alleged crime: misconduct. This is fairly straightforward: he’s doing something naughty on the side and he was caught.
Tail-hookery? Fraternization? All valid suggestions. Getting drunk and stupid with hookers? In public? Anything is possible.
As a Captain (the equivalent of an Army/Marine Colonel), he’s quite high ranking in the CG and so his behavior is supposed to be of higher caliber. This discipline isn’t for any ‘official’ duty but has everything to do with ‘unofficial’ behavior, in my humble opinion.
Not a wise career move…
Sorry wrong thread.
“Bloomberg did its own Barnett story in 2007 headlined “Rove’s $900-an-Hour Book-Deal Broker Preps Hillary for Debate.”
Palin, who claims she is in debt half a million to an Anchorage, lawyer, doesn’t pay that obligation then continues to incur thousandths upon thousandths more with another attorney?????
What is MINDBLOWING is there is little Trig, barely a year, into the rest of his life and his mother is writing off his health insurance & security for a cover of another magazine. Palin Sucks!!!!!
Drift River is more likely to fall under a dereliction of duty charge; therefore, not a likely reason for his removal. Misconduct usually relates to personnel interactions, so look in that direction.
Interesting…please, as I know you y’all will, get us informed about the oil tanks/Mt. Redoubt doings. Thanks.
Is he gay?
I would guess that the problem would be fraternization. It is a no-no period. In a small unit, there is no intermediate step. He would leave before an underling. Watch for someone else to be pulled out.
Hmmm……….gotta be love or money! Either way, sounds like he’s putting his hands in somebody’s pockets.
Personally, I yearn for a connection to the Drift River fiasco. Mr. Hamilton, in the game of “lets play chicken with the volcano and ignore the lessons of oil spill prevention of the past” certainly ignored the best interests of the environment and those of us who rely on clean water for a living. Hamilton, in typical fashion, obfuscated on behalf of big oil.
I think we shouldn’t speculate on Hamilton’s doings until more is known. Unfounded rumors have a way of taking on a life of their own, and we sure don’t want to start such things here.
WRT GINO’s book coming out in 2010, does anyone know when she has to announce for the Gov. election? I’m guessing it would be pretty soon, in the next 3 months or so. ‘Twill be interesting to see how those two things coincide.
Please put book deal comments in the open thread. Thanks!
She did say comic book, didn’t she?
Ooops and sorry! Guess the previous post should be on the open thread.
14 Quarter Granite Palin Says:
May 12th, 2009 at 3:59 PM
Palin signs book deal! Says it’s going to be written by herself and she’ll be telling the REAL story unfiltered by the mainstream media. She’s happy to be able to put good use to her journalism degree.
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Her timing of announcing the book deal is odd. Thought she was busy dealing with the flooding disaster.
Given she doesn’t understand the 1st amendment, I’d say her journalism degree might be worthless.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/10/palin-fears-med.html
SP’s idea of “unfiltered by the mainstream media” means she can lie, mislead and exaggerate without being questioned. Also…she probably believes that using either a ghostwriter or an editor working from recorded interviews means the same thing as “written by herself”.
I’m not even curious what she will write and will not be buying the book or borrowing it from the library.
Palin signs a book deal. If Obama can write a bestseller and become President then, gosh darn it, so can GINO also, too.
Isn’t it amazing that governing a state is a part-time job that can be combined with large amounts of unrelated travel including a national campaign, writing an entire book, endorsing snow machines, and other money-making ventures?
Maybe the pay should be cut to part-time, too.
Palin signs book deal! Says it’s going to be written by herself and she’ll be telling the REAL story unfiltered by the mainstream media. She’s happy to be able to put good use to her journalism degree.
Yee Haw! A novel. Coming to the stores in spring of 2010!
@anadventurer–I suspect it wasn’t him at the helm then; the ADN article says he was named to his post just last summer.
“…abruptly relieved of duty…”
“alleged misconduct and loss of confidence in the officer’s ability to command.”
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Sounds grim for Hamilton, especially the loss of confidence in officer’s ability to command. If he made it to the third-highest billet in the state, he obviously had the talent and experience for that level of command. Unfortunately, it sounds like it will be personal problems affecting his job performance…..
strangelet Says:
May 12th, 2009 at 3:22 PM
From the wording of the RADM’s statement, I’d think it’s either Tailhookery, or maybe being-persuaded-by-the-oil-company-ery.
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I vote “Tailhookery”.
I’m leaning towards the latter, strangelet. At first, Chevron, the Coast Guard and the ADEC swore up and down they could not 1) ballast those tanks with water and 2) get all the oil out.
Then, suddenly, they could (and DID!)
Things that make you go, ‘Hmmmm….’
GINO’s book deal just announced!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ethic’s complaints anyone?
From the wording of the RADM’s statement, I’d think it’s either Tailhookery, or maybe being-persuaded-by-the-oil-company-ery.
anadventurer: the ‘grog and grope’ thing?
I heard some weird stuff about the local ANC CG station about 4 years ago. I don’t know if Hamilton was at the helm then or not. Mostly it was “Navy Tailhook” kine stuff. All I have is hearsay really.
I doubt the Coast Guard would publicly remove someone in such a high command position over the Drift River Oil terminal since there was no actual spill. Better not to speculate about what this could be since the investigation may actually clear him of any wrong doing and in fact he may have done nothing wrong. Clearly there are serious charges, but without more it isn’t really fair to tarnish his name.
Hmmmmmmmmmmm……………What a kawinkadince! Generally I don’t believe in those.
Saw that and wondered as well…..?
Interesting, the circumstantial connection is strong. I’m still not sure if his action (or inaction) regarding the Drift River terminals would constitute “alleged misconduct and loss of confidence in the officer’s ability to command” but you never know.
Anybody know the man personally ?? Give some insight.